Vehicle type: Pickup
History/description
Arriving in 2014, the 2015 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado were corporate twin pickups that hit the road with new engines, new tech and more compact and manoeuvrable sizing.
Ideal for the shopper after plenty of pickup goodness with more compact sizing (and a lower fuel bill), these trucks offered up plenty of selection through a number of engines, drivelines and body styles to suit any need, taste or budget.
Look for OnStar, full multimedia compatibility, the MyLink system for Smartphone remote control and monitoring of certain vehicle functions, a large colour touch-screen interface, advanced safety features, a standard back-up camera, automatic lights, remote start and lots more.
A standard 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine was offered and the up-level 3.6-litre V6 was available. The four-cylinder generated about 190 horses while the V6 cranked out about 300.
Both engines used various fuel-saving technologies to keep fuel use reasonable and both automatic transmissions (six or eight speeds, depending on the year) and a six-speed manual (limited availability) were on offer.
GM added a diesel engine to the powertrain lineup as well, though late availability and limited reliability information at writing mean we’ll focus on the much more popular gas engines, here.
Look for towing capacity at a maximum of about 7,000 lbs.
What owners like
Owners tend to report satisfaction from a comfortable ride, traction to spare (on 4x4 units) and more high-tech feature content than was previously available in this segment.
What owners dislike
Complaints included a sometimes-rough ride from certain models, a hard-to-see 4x4 selector dial and higher-than-appreciated levels of wind noise at speed. Further, note that a strange bump beneath the rear seat floor may impede the carrying of certain types of cargo.
Test drive to-do list
When buying any used pickup truck, consider two things to be mandatory before you fork over your hard-earned cash.
First, a full in-the-air inspection on a mechanic’s hoist is highly advised, as this affordable check can reveal a multitude of potential problems that may otherwise be difficult to detect.
Simply, a trained technician with a hoist and proper equipment can see and detect more possible problems than the average test-driver kneeling down for a quick look beneath via flashlight. A check like this (often called a pre-purchase inspection), is the single best thing you can do to protect yourself from buying another’s used-truck problems.
Next, if the service history of the truck you’re leaning toward isn’t clear, budget to have a full fluid change and tune-up performed at the time of purchase (or as soon thereafter as possible) for added peace of mind and increased long-term reliability.
Just note, if the truck you’re considering doesn’t have all service records available, you may have difficulty obtaining any warranty repairs, should they be required, if the vehicle is still under warranty.
If feasible, a 2017 or later version of the Colorado or Canyon may be best, as this year saw revisions to the driveline to help improve performance and fuel mileage.
Quadruple-check the heater in the truck you’re test-driving, and be sure it’s able to quickly deliver useful, powerful heat on demand at a range of temperatures. If the heat seems to be weak or inconsistent, further investigation is required.
Sometimes, the problem is a bad thermostat, which is easy to address. Other times, the problem lies deep within the guts of the climate control system’s internal parts, and out-of-warranty repairs will be pricey. If the heater on the truck you’re after shows any signs of funny-business, be sure to have a technician figure out why.
Next, confirm all advanced electronics (including the parking radar, backup camera, OnStar system, navigation system, all steering-wheel-mounted controls, and all displays, are in proper working order. Now is the time to see if any of these possibly pricey-to-repair systems, or the components that power them, need any attention.
Note that a “service 4x4” message in the instrument cluster may appear concerning, though the problem causing the message is easily remedied in many cases; the solution is to simply reprogram the computer that controls and monitors the 4x4 system’s engagement and, in some cases, a replacement switch installed to the exterior of the transfer case. Any dealer should be able to address this problem quickly.
If you’ll go with a unit that has the eight-speed automatic (introduced for model-year 2017), be on the lookout for signs of hard shifting, or a notable delay when switching between drive and reverse.
This problem may be more apparent while the vehicle is dead cold, so insist on making your test drive only at a time when the vehicle has been parked for several hours.
A shudder or deep vibration through the vehicle at certain speeds may also be detectable, along with otherwise clumsy or unrefined operation from the transmission.
Some owners have had these issues fixed with updated transmission software, while others have needed components, or the entire transmission, replaced — almost exclusively under warranty. GM dealers have access to technical service bulletin #16-NA-364, which may help technicians diagnose and remedy this problem, if detected.
Finally, avoid buying a used Canyon or Colorado that’s been modified by past owners, especially if you want full-warranty coverage. Non-factory electronics, suspension parts, engine parts or body parts may be fine, though some modifications may void parts of the vehicle’s warranty.
Said warranty does not cover damage or wear caused by the use of non-factory parts, electronics or fluids, either. Translation? For maximum confidence, be sure the unit you’re considering is factory stock.
The verdict
These trucks look relatively solid so far, with most commonly-reported problems being easy to detect on a test drive, or via a PPI inspection.
